Supporting Our Volunteer Firefighters: Securing Critical Equipment Grants for District 3

Public Safety

When firefighters respond to an emergency, they need the right equipment to protect themselves and save lives. As your representative on the Westchester County Board of Legislators—and as a volunteer firefighter myself—I've worked to ensure our local fire departments have the tools they need to serve our communities safely and effectively.

Six Fire Departments, Six Critical Equipment Upgrades

I'm proud to have assisted six volunteer fire departments in District 3 and the surrounding area in securing grants for essential equipment. Working closely with New York State representatives and through state grant programs — including funding from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) — we've delivered tangible results for our first responders:

Thornwood Fire Department - SCBA Filling Station

The Thornwood Fire Department, where I serve as an interior volunteer firefighter, received a state grant secured through the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM) and DASNY funding, in partnership with NYS representatives.

Thornwood Fire Department protects a densely populated 5-square-mile area with over 2,500 homes and businesses, serving nearly 6,000 residents plus daily visitors. The 100% volunteer department—comprised of approximately 75 firefighters—has served the Mount Pleasant community for over 120 years, located at 770 Commerce Street in the heart of Thornwood.

The air compressor fill and workstation addresses critical operational needs:

Immediate Refill Capability: Fill SCBA cylinders on-site within minutes rather than hours
Emergency Readiness: Maintain full capacity of cylinders for multiple alarm fires requiring extended operations
Training Efficiency: Conduct realistic SCBA training drills without depleting available air supply
Cost Effectiveness: Eliminate recurring vendor fees for cylinder refills
Operational Independence: No longer depend on neighboring departments or commercial vendors during emergencies
Quality Control: Ensure breathing air meets strict purity standards
Firefighter Safety: Provide reliable life-support systems for interior firefighting operations

As one of the volunteers who benefits from this equipment daily, I can speak to its importance: when you're entering a burning structure, your SCBA is your lifeline. Having our own fill station means we can train more effectively, respond to extended incidents without running out of air, and ensure every firefighter has reliable breathing protection. This grant doesn't just improve our operations—it saves lives, including those of the volunteers who serve our community.

Valhalla Fire Department - Utility Terrain Vehicle

The 100% volunteer Valhalla Fire Department serves the hamlet of Valhalla within Mount Pleasant, an area known as home to Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, and the expansive 400-acre Grasslands county government complex. The department's service area includes residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, medical facilities, institutional buildings, and challenging terrain that traditional fire apparatus cannot easily navigate.

State grant funding secured through the SAM program and in partnership with NYS representatives enabled the department to purchase a Polaris Ranger XP 1000 UTV with a comprehensive all-weather firefighting and rescue package. According to Anthony J. Ciancio, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners for Valhalla Fire District, this specialized vehicle addresses critical gaps in the department's response capabilities.

The UTV's advanced equipment suite includes:

Top-Mounted Firefighting Pump: Delivers water directly to brush fires and small structure fires
4,500 lb. Electric Winch: Rescues vehicles, removes downed trees, and assists in technical rescue operations
Three Lighting Arrays: Provides scene illumination for night operations and search efforts
Front Hood Storage Rack: Carries additional tools, medical equipment, and supplies
Rescue Stretcher: Transports injured patients from remote or difficult-access locations
Booster Reel with Hose: Quick-attack capability for initial fire suppression
Complete Hand Tool Complement: Axes, pike poles, shovels, and specialized rescue equipment
Siren and PA System: Ensures safe response through traffic and crowd notification
All-Weather Capability: Four-wheel drive and aggressive tread for snow, mud, and rough terrain

Critical Response Scenarios:

Brush Fire Suppression: Valhalla's wooded areas and open spaces require rapid, mobile firefighting capability
Medical College Campus: Navigate between buildings, parking areas, and green spaces with medical emergencies
Remote Area Access: Reach incidents in areas where traditional apparatus cannot maneuver
Initial Attack Vehicle: First-arriving unit can begin suppression while larger apparatus responds
Special Event Coverage: Provide standby coverage at community events, sports activities, and gatherings
Multi-Casualty Incidents: Transport multiple patients or equipment in mass-casualty situations
Mutual Aid Support: Assist neighboring departments with specialized off-road capabilities

The UTV represents modern firefighting's evolution—combining traditional capabilities with innovative mobility to protect communities more effectively. For Valhalla's unique service area mixing urban, suburban, and semi-rural characteristics, this vehicle fills a critical operational gap.

Pocantico Hills Fire Department - Utility Terrain Vehicle

The all-volunteer Pocantico Hills Fire Department serves a unique and challenging district that includes the historic Rockefeller Estate, Rockefeller State Park with its extensive woodlands and trails, the Pocantico Hills School, Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, and Historic Hudson Valley headquarters. This 270-household district requires specialized equipment to access areas traditional fire apparatus simply cannot reach.

The grant-funded UTV addresses critical response challenges:

Estate and Park Access: Miles of private roads, trails, and woodland paths on the Rockefeller properties require nimble vehicles
Stone Barns Response: The working farm and education center has buildings spread across rural acreage
Trail Emergencies: Hikers and visitors on State Park trails need rapid medical response
Historic Property Protection: Narrow access roads around historic buildings require compact equipment
All-Season Capability: Four-wheel-drive access during snow, mud, and adverse conditions

The UTV carries medical equipment, firefighting tools, and rescue gear to locations that would take precious additional minutes for traditional apparatus to reach—if they could reach them at all.

Sleepy Hollow Fire Department - Fire Boat

Sleepy Hollow's location along the Hudson River creates unique firefighting and rescue challenges. The department's marine unit, which includes two boats as part of their fleet, provides critical water-based emergency response for a community where the river isn't just scenery—it's part of daily life.

The grant-funded fireboat enhances capabilities for:

Waterfront Property Protection: Homes, businesses, and historic sites directly on the Hudson River
Marine Incidents: Boat fires, capsizings, and recreational boating emergencies
Bridge Response: The Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (Tappan Zee) connects to the area
Waterfront Park Emergencies: Kingsland Point Park and other riverside locations
Multi-Jurisdictional Mutual Aid: Supporting neighboring riverfront communities including Tarrytown, Irvington, and beyond
Environmental Incidents: Fuel spills or hazmat situations on the water

Water-based firefighting presents unique challenges: accessing structures from the water side, pumping river water for firefighting, rescuing people from the water, and navigating in darkness or adverse weather. The fireboat ensures Sleepy Hollow's five fire companies can respond effectively to any emergency in their jurisdiction—land or water.

Pleasantville Fire Department - Utility Terrain Vehicle

Pleasantville Fire Department serves both the Village of Pleasantville and its fire protection district, responding to over 400 calls annually. The village includes residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, Pace University's Pleasantville campus, parks, and varied terrain that challenges traditional fire apparatus.

The UTV grant provides rapid response capability for:

Campus Emergencies: Pace University has buildings, paths, and green spaces requiring quick access
Park and Recreation Areas: Village parks, athletic fields, and wooded areas
Medical First Response: Getting EMT-trained firefighters to medical emergencies faster than ambulances
Residential Access: Narrow driveways, tight corners, and areas where full-size apparatus can't easily maneuver
Special Events: Village events, parades, and gatherings require rapid-response medical coverage
Brush Fire Response: Wooded areas and vegetation fires need specialized, mobile firefighting capability

The UTV carries cardiac monitors, oxygen, trauma supplies, hand tools, and a portable pump with hose. For a cardiac arrest, stroke, or serious injury, getting trained responders to the patient 3-5 minutes faster can mean the difference between life and death.

Armonk Fire Department - SCBA Filling Station

The Armonk Independent Fire Company serves North Castle Fire District Number 2 as an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) organization. Like Thornwood, they recognized that an on-site SCBA filling station transforms operational capability and firefighter safety.

The grant-funded air compressor and fill station provides:

Operational Independence: Fill air cylinders on-site rather than transporting to vendors or neighboring departments
Faster Turnaround: Multiple SCBA bottles can be filled simultaneously, reducing downtime between calls
Training Efficiency: Firefighters can complete SCBA training drills without rationing air supply
Extended Operations: During prolonged incidents, firefighters rotate through fresh air bottles without leaving the scene
Mutual Aid Support: Can refill bottles for neighboring departments assisting on calls
Cost Savings: Eliminates ongoing vendor fees for air fills
Quality Assurance: Department controls the purity and pressure of breathing air

Modern SCBAs are sophisticated life-support systems. Interior firefighters enter smoke-filled, toxic environments relying entirely on their air supply. A filling station ensures Armonk's firefighters always have the breathing air they need to safely do their job—and can help neighboring departments do the same.

Understanding the Need: A Firefighter's Perspective

Becoming a volunteer firefighter gave me an invaluable, ground-level view of the challenges our first responders face. After completing over 100 hours of training and earning my Firefighter 1 certification at the Department of Emergency Services, I understand firsthand why this equipment matters.

SCBAs protect firefighters from smoke inhalation and toxic fumes—they're literally life-support systems. Having an on-site filling station means faster turnaround between calls and during extended operations. UTVs provide rapid response capability in areas where full-size fire trucks can't go: hiking trails, parks, large properties, and rough terrain. These vehicles carry essential firefighting and medical equipment while navigating narrow paths and steep grades.

How We Secured These Grants

These equipment acquisitions didn't happen by accident. They resulted from persistent advocacy and coordination across multiple levels of government:

State Partnerships

I worked closely with NYS representatives to access state funding for firefighters and first responders. These grants came through New York State programs including the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM), the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment (V-FIRE) Grant Program, and funding administered through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).

Local Needs Assessment

As a member of fire departments in District 3, I hear directly from chiefs, officers, and fellow firefighters about their equipment needs and budget constraints. This on-the-ground knowledge allows me to effectively advocate for specific grants that address real operational gaps.

Grant Application Support

Securing competitive state grants requires detailed applications, technical specifications, and justifications. I assisted departments in navigating the application process and connecting with appropriate state resources.

Why This Matters for Westchester Residents

Every dollar invested in volunteer fire department equipment provides tremendous return for taxpayers. These six grants collectively represent hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funding—not county tax dollars—that enhance public safety throughout our communities.

Consider these facts:

District 3 relies almost entirely on volunteer firefighters who serve without salary
Response times improve when departments have appropriate equipment for every scenario
Proper equipment protects firefighters, reducing injuries and ensuring experienced responders stay active
Modern equipment addresses emerging threats like electric vehicle fires and battery storage systems

The 2024 Westchester County budget, which I supported, funded the HERRO Scholarship Program to provide tuition assistance to volunteer first responders, and added two new Emergency Services positions focused on training and grant administration. We're building a comprehensive support system for volunteer first responders.

Continuing the Work

As a member of the Public Safety & Veterans Committee on the Board of Legislators, I remain committed to supporting volunteer fire departments through every available avenue—whether that's facilitating state grants, supporting county-level funding, or advocating for property tax exemptions that recognize the service of volunteer firefighters.

The 2024 budget legislation I supported lowered the service eligibility for property tax exemptions from five years to two years, making it easier for volunteer firefighters to qualify for these benefits. We're removing barriers to service while simultaneously improving the equipment and resources available to those who serve.

From the Firehouse to the Board Room

There's something powerful about sitting in Board of Legislators meetings after spending the previous night on a fire call. It reminds me exactly who we serve and why equipment grants aren't just line items in a budget—they're tools that protect lives, including the lives of the brave volunteers who run toward danger when others run away.

I'm honored to serve both as a firefighter and as your representative on the Board, working to ensure every volunteer fire department in District 3 has the resources needed to protect our communities.

Get Involved

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter or supporting your local fire department, contact any of the departments mentioned above. They're always looking for dedicated community members willing to serve.

For questions about fire department grants or public safety initiatives in District 3, you can reach my office through the Westchester County Board of Legislators website.

Together, we're building safer, stronger communities—one grant, one piece of equipment, one volunteer at a time.